Experience the hypnotic pulse of the melodic claves, majestic congas, ringing timbales, and the call of the raspy guiro, sleek bata and beaded shekere, as tropical African percussion instruments mesh with the classical instrumentation of European music. The Roberto Ocasio Latin Jazz Project musicians provide an energized interactive demonstration, from the roots of Afro-Cuban Music to today's Latin Jazz. A fun way to learn about this popular musical genre while learning a little Spanish and maybe even dancing the mambo!

Many songs tell stories, describing characters and their adventures in particular places at particular times. This class looks at some of the great stories of rock and roll and examines how lyrics can establish a setting, introduce characters, and develop a plot. Through exciting recorded performances by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees like Aretha Franklin, the Beatles, and Chuck Berry, students learn how narrative can be developed. They will act out undersea adventures on a "Yellow Submarine" and imagine what it would be like to be "Johnny B. Goode" by drawing what they hear and read in the lyrics, all while learning to summarize and retell the stories told through rock and roll.

Susan Weber's handcrafted quilt depicting Ohio's people, geography, and official symbols is the backdrop for her interactive stories and songs. Ohioans of diverse cultures come to life in students' imaginations along a rich timeline of Ohio heritage. Susan's stories begin with Native American and European settlers and continue with canal diggers, farmers, entrepreneurs, freedom fighters, immigrants and astronauts. Students listen and respond through movement, imitation, sound effects, and voice to stories of Ohioans whose actions made a difference in Ohio's development.

Based on the beloved movie partially filmed in Cleveland, this classic holiday comedy is a funny and sweet tale of growing up in the 1940s. This is a great opportunity to introduce your students to live theatre!
Available December 1,2,9 & 16, 2009 at 10:30 a.m.

Bring the magic of theater right into your classroom with this exciting re-telling of Aesop's fables and Anansi's folktales. Acclaimed Teaching Artist Nina Domingue will perform right in the classroom as well as do a hands-on workshop with your students. Participants will have the opportunity to explore and create stories based on the style of these two master storytellers.

This program for the classroom examines the people, places and events that created the steel-pan and its role in the modern day Carnival in Trinidad. One or two members of the renowned group 7 Mile Isle teach students about the history of the steel drum; provide a glimpse of Trinidad's varied landscape; offer unique insights about Trinidad's famous Carnival; and provide musical examples that bring it all to life. Video, audio, demonstration, and participation are included.

A Study in Black and White is a survey of two musical styles: African-American and Anglo-American. The African-American musical tradition has its roots in the African Diaspora, slavery, Reconstruction, and the Jim Crow era. The Anglo-American country music tradition has its roots in Appalachia and the British Isles. The program explores examples of the close connection between early "old-timey" country music and the blues.

Students learn the art and history of West African Dance and how it influenced contemporary and popular dancing in America. Students learn these dances while also researching the historical evolution of dances beginning in West Africa. Students will use technology to conduct their research and present findingsto the student body, family, friends and community.

Alice in Wonderland is an in-school performance which combines a narrated story book version of this tale with excerpted dances from the full length story ballet. Bringing to life the classic children's tale, with a contemporary twist using high energy reggae music this performance is truly a new look at history's most beloved classic.

Alice in Wonderland is a main stage performance which combines a narrated story book version with excerpted dances from the full length story ballet which brings to life the classic children's tale, with a contemporary twist using high energy reggae music. Truly a new look at history's most beloved classic. Available on a first come first serve basis for field trips. Spring 2010.

Students replicate and create rhythms of increasing complexity while learning to play rhythm sticks. Exploration of addition and subtraction, patterns, collecting data, and making predictions is enhanced through music and movement in this arts-integrated learning experience. This residency may include drum making, where each student creates their own percussion instrument. At the end of the residency, students play their drums, sing songs, and dance at a performance enjoyed by the school community.

Students actively participating in such disciplines as dance, music, theatre and visual art. By experiencing a variety of mini-classes taught by professional teaching artists, students can be the artists for a day.

This program enhances your students' skills in geometry and mathematics by taking them on a playful journey in search of moving lines, shapes, and angles. Utilizing music from orchestral to operatic, six dancers wearing clown-like black and white costumes do vigorous lifts, jumps, and turns while handling delicate, brightly colored balloons. The balloons become the catalyst for the exploration of geometric shapes, design, and choreographic patterns.

In these dynamic music workshops, students learn how to tap, clap, stomp and "manually" create rhythms using just their bodies as instruments. Students learn more about the structure of music and how the essential elements of musical composition and rhythm relate easily to mathematical concepts.

"Promote literacy during this theatrical assembly program. With props and a "bag of tricks," Mr. G! acts out popular first readers such as Frog and Toad are Friends, Amazing Grace, The Wizard of Oz, The Cat in the Hat and others. This program is great for Right to Read Month or a kick-off assembly program for coming back to school.

Utilizing ancient techniques from the culture of Ohio's native people, students learn how to coil build a ceramic bowl in a traditional manner. Each vessel created becomes an archival piece of pottery that connects young learners to the past and bridges them to the future. Glazing with symbols and imagery from the students' daily lives further enhances that connection. The bowls are both functional and beautiful.

Who were the people who built the city of Cleveland, where did they come from, how did they get here and where did they settle once they arrived? Learn about the different jobs workers had, the industries they worked in, and the products they created as Cleveland grew from a tiny village to a thriving industrial center. Discover how citizens came together to create social service agencies, summer camps, settlement houses, schools, and religious institutions. Compare and contrast the tools workers used from the early industrial age to the computer age.

This hands-on residency turns each class into its own "jug band." Students will each get a part in the band playing kazoos, rub-boards, rhythm sticks, wood blocks, shakers, and other instruments. There are vocal parts for each student as well. Younger classes perform Step it Up and Go. The older classes will perform Carried the Water for the Elephant.

Take a trip to the warm tropics through geography, science, art and music and be inspired by this beautiful "Carnival" world of color. Wendy illustrates the diversity and cultures of the world through the diverse artistic techniques of chalk street-painting, mask making, fabric design, and batik to create props, banners, costumes, and scenery for community celebrations and parades. Wendy customizes a visual arts program and project to enrich student's exploration of the islands and the visual arts.

Narrated, 60-minute concerts performed by the world-famous Cleveland Orchestra in historic Severance Hall introduce students to orchestral repertoire and musical concepts. Young soloists and lively collaborative artists make the concert experience engaging for students of all ages. Field trip includes preparation materials including a student newspaper and special concert CD; also see the professional development section for information about Education Concert teacher workshops.

After exploring the use of symbols in Medieval times, students create their own banner, flag, or family coat of arms using a variety of materials which could include: canvas, paint, glitter, collage, felt, and photographs. The flag, banner, or coat of arms can celebrate the students' school, sports team, interests, family, or historical assignment. Students gain an understanding of the use of symbols throughout history.

Through a unique theatrical experience that combines electroluminescent puppetry, dance and storytelling, we meet Darwin - a wild and primitive dinosaur. Darwin is brought to life by a magical scientist, Professor Harlow. When Darwin's natural instincts take over and he begins acting on his dangerous, dinosaur instincts, Professor Harlow gives Darwin a heart. Follow Darwin's journey as he is faced with the final test of love and compassion when Professor Harlow faces danger.
May 3-5, 2010, 10:15 AM & 12:00 PM Performances, 45 Minutes in Length

What do hearing people do when they need to communicate with a deaf individual and don't know sign language? This school assembly program is a combination of theatrical skits and audience participation activities that creates deaf awareness in the audience. This program uses humor and exaggerated characters to explore conflicts that naturally occur between the Deaf and Hearing communities.

This residency is an interactive combination of storytelling and real-time illustration that keeps students laughing and learning from the beginning to end. Dinosaur Fables helps to explain the "big picture;" the relationship between human behavior and nature. The stories are an amusing "hook" to reflect on real-life issues, such as the water cycle, the depletion of natural resources, and alternative energy sources.

A man learns people should not be judged by appearances. A boy shares what it feels like to be poor. A family discovers the library. The power of reading and the benefits of being bilingual are revealed as you venture into Latin America through stories and song.

Students will learn the art and history of African percussion and its relationship to today's music, R&B, Pop, Reggae, Blues, World Music and Hip Hop. Students will learn by playing and experiencing rhythms from the countries of West Africa, Jamaica, Cuba and Brazil. Students will be even more engaged when they experiece the 360 degrees of the drum, the 360 degrees of Hip Hop DJ turntable and also the street buckets of New York. These energizing workshops include preparation for the culminating event called "Sharing Hour"" for the student body, family, friends and community.

What is your favorite Eric Carle story? Students study why and how author and illustrator Eric Carle creates his picture stories. They learn about warm and cool colors, how shapes make objects, and how to combine objects to tell a story. Students learn about the art form of collage, and create a collage that has a clear understanding of idea, audience and purpose. A single teaching space is necessary.

This high energy performance engages students through the exploration of Nigerian Afro-beat music with an emphasis on instrument families, percussion rhythms, call and response, and socially derived lyrics. After interacting with live afro-beat and using their bodies as percussion instruments, students brainstorm lyrical content based on positive social experiences at their school. Then Mifune and the school create and perform their own afro-beat song together!

In a unique experience that combines theater and interactive technologies, the audience is immersed in a world made of music, digital images and butterflies. During the performance, your students are invited to take part, to enter the scene, to move among images which react to their gestures and movement. This special show and experience, direct from Italy, is limited to an intimate audience of 100
March 4-7, 2010, 10:15 AM & 12:15 PM Performances, 60 Minutes in Length

Students won't require a camera for this residency - they'll make one! By studying the earliest camera (camera obscura) students learn the relationship between the camera and the human eye. They then have the opportunity to create their very own pinhole camera. A fascinating way to learn the science and mechanics of light and photography.

Students will learn what it was like to be an immigrant, migrant or refugee coming to Northeast Ohio from the 1840's to the 1980's. In small groups, students use primary and secondary documents, artifacts and clothing to reveal details about history of ethnic groups and practices and products of their culture. Using role-playing, students present their stories to the rest of the class.

The wonderful world of Dr. Seuss is brought to musical life through this interactive performance, which includes beautiful singing, zany acting, and crazy props. Soprano, Lara Troyer, and her friends perform the one-act opera Green Eggs and Ham by composer Robert Kapilow.

This interactive performance is a musical celebration of our state, Ohio. Through original songs and movement, the program addresses topics such as kindness, cooperation, and community. Singing Ohio, we create big, round vocal sounds. Moving Ohio, we create an original community dance. And Learning Ohio, we discover a singable song that lists the 88 counties in geographical order.

In this residency, students learn to strengthen and reinforce basic math skills through the use of music. Music contains many direct connections to numbers - counting beats and measures, creating and playing rhythms, and composing music with 5, 8, 10, or 12 musical tones. Recognizing and identifying patterns both in musical phrases and number sequences is explored, as well. Dave engages the students in this process by using an electronic keyboard and laptop computer, and they find both excitement and fascination in this Math and Music journey.

Wearing the legendary pot on his head, Ray brings John Chapman (better known as Johnny Appleseed) to life in a lively presentation. Johnny leads participatory storytelling, songs, and movement activities that describe his personal history, his life in pioneer Ohio, the distribution and importance of apples in frontier life, and the varieties and usage of apples in our own times.

Journey to the Land of the Blues is a program that takes students on a lively journey through the history of the blues, a music created out of the Southern African-American experience and one of the roots of Rock and Roll. Throughout the program, stories of social and cultural conditions are woven into the history of the music, including the experiences of slaves, the "Great Migrations" of African-Americans, and the technological advances that affected music and everyday life.

Colorful West African Kente cloth is made from narrow patterned strips that are sewn together. Students are first introduced to African art and culture by studying African textiles and the symbolism of Kente patterns. After discussing pattern and repetition and learning to identify pattern in a sequence of geometric shapes, students arrange papers of various shapes, colors, and sizes to create a patterned paper collage in the style of Kente. By manipulating geometric shapes for their pattern, students explore the ideas of shape, space, color, and size relationships. If time allows, the collages may be embellished with another layer of patterning formed by marker lines and stamp prints.

This two-character play is set on the porch of Tubman's home in Auburn, New York in 1902. The audience is regarded as a group of visitors who have come to reminisce with 82-year old Tubman as she recounts the heroic adventures of her life through story and song. Jeffrey Taylor, Jr. assists in telling her story and accompanies Tubman on accordion including traditional songs such as "Drinking Gourd," "Go Down Moses," and "Battle Hymn of the Republic."

This assembly examines the exciting history of jazz dance from the 1930s and 1940s. The program features lindy hop and jitterbug dancers dancing along side a narration that includes slides of historic moments from the era in which the dances emerged. Dancers in the presentation wear period costumes and invite students up to the stage to learn basic dance steps. Presentation is 45 minutes long.

Discovered by Magical Theatre at the International Children's Theatre Festival in Scotland, this astounding bit of theater, music and storytelling will mesmerize your students and teachers. Sophisticated, and at the same time simple, this reinvention of the classic Wolf and Red folk tale is one of the most spellbinding performances you will ever see. And it's not just for the wee, little ones, either.

Literature and language arts form the basis for this residency that also teaches students to follow directions, improvise, use their imaginations and play with phonemes and rhyme schemes. Students dramatize stories, sing songs, and dance while immersing themselves in the elements of literature. Terry combines proverbs and body percussion to show the rhythmic aspects of language. This residency makes language and story come alive for students and can be customized for the literature being used in your classroom. Children are engaged in movement activities so a large empty room is essential; access to a piano is preferred by not required.

Children's book author M. LaVora Perry combines reading, writing, and the dramatic presentation of literature to develop students abilities to identify and create characters with distinct points of view. Focusing on dialogue, action, and setting, students discover their own literary characters.

Through music and storytelling, Baba Jubal takes students on an adventure to the Manding African Empire. This participatory program combines history, geography and language while engaging students in the experience of making music and learning about West African culture. A residency, in which students learn more about Africa, music, and how to make their own drums, may follow this program.

Students will work in teams to create at least one permanent or semi-permanent (transportable) large scale mural. Each mural can relate to a specific story or series of stories read by the class throughout the school year. Using a variety of drawing materials students will illustrate sections of the stories while discussing line, color, and form. The murals can be displayed indoors or out.

Take your students on a multicultural dance exploration where they discover various traditional dances from Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. During a performance program, three artists perform the dances with traditional music and costumes while comparing and contrasting the different forms. Cultural and historical influences of the various dances are also a focus during this program.

Music is the Weapon offers writing and music as an alternative to violence and negativity. Two or three members of Mifune lead a writing residency exposing students to lyrical songwriting from today's artists and yesterday's masters. Discussion focuses on current events of either personal, local, national or international significance. Members of Mifune coach students in writing their own lyrics and music. The residency concludes with a performance of the students' original music.

In this world of television and video games, music as a form of play has become an endangered species. In this program, students explore a world of music that has been passed down from generation to generation for thousands of years. Students leave with pocketfuls of musical potential and a joyful sense of responsibility to continue the wonderful tradition of PLAY-ing music everyday. This program encourages invention and insists upon music under any circumstances.

OHIO (Only Happened in Ohio), includes activities that focus on Ohio's waterways. Students learn about the importance of rivers and canals, the Great Lakes, and the historical significance of these bodies of water. Through the use of maps and timelines, students discover how Native Americans and pioneers used Ohio's waterways. This residency culminates in a "Saturday night" square dance and performance of student-composed songs.

One World Rhythm celebrates the rhythmic human spirit. Told as a multicultural, interactive story using various cultural hand drums and percussion, this program invites children to journey with an African rhythm as it travels from Africa to Cuba, Brazil, the Dominican Republic and the United States. The imagination of students will ignite as rhythms changes form, patterns, and sound during their travels. Students participate by singing in several languages, playing body percussion, and dancing. This uplifting story of traveling rhythms celebrates the African roots of much of today's music.

Using "natyam" or dance, which is closely associated with the arts of music, sculpture and painting in India, this program gives students a sense of history and culture and enables them to easily assimilate the connection and integration between the performing arts and the language arts.

The exciting sounds and sights of Battu, a percussion ensemble, draw students into a world of different cultures to the beat of a drum (or surdo, xylophone...). Battu provides a multicultural, historical learning experience through diverse music and instruments taking students from Trinidad to Brazil, Cuba to Asia.

This comprehensive workshop series draws from English Language and Fine Arts standards to reinforce learning the variety of styles, elements, forms and structures of poetry. Imaginative and creative, this program is an exploration of poets and poetry infusing the imagery, sounds, and structures of poetry with the creative language and movement of dance. This residency can also be focused on the works of a poet of particular interest or theme being studied.

Ray performs a program of original children's poetry enlivened with his blend of interactive theater, call and response, and sing-along. Students journey with Ray to the Land of Poetry where they act out Grandma Zelma's nursery rhymes, create animal songs and meet all kinds of strange creatures like the Goonies, the Hullaballoos and the Yowler.

A few chairs, a couple of music stands and you have Reader's Theater. This residency promotes literacy using popular children's classics such as Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters, The People Could Fly, Anansi the Spider or Aesop's Fables as staged readings. Choose one of these stories and Jimmie Woody, as the narrator, works with your students to turn one of these stories into a wonderful staged reading for your classroom. This residency helps students develop their public speaking and dramatic skills as well as helps them learn how to cooperate with one another and be creative with literature.

RHAPSODY Assembly includes a dynamic live performance that features hip-hop music, dance, and rhyme with a DJ, MC, and break dancers. The program demonstrates how hip-hop can be a positive and productive form of creative self-expression. The presentation also includes an explanation of the basics of each art form of hip-hop culture as well as an overview of the beginnings of hip-hop history. Audience participation is encouraged and members of the audience are invited to the stage to participate in hands-on demonstrations alongside the artists. A question-and-answer session with the audience concludes the presentation. The Assembly Presentation is approximately one hour in length. The program can be shortened to fit into a 40 or 50-minute class period. A Pre-Performance Visit will give students a multi-media introduction to hip-hop. The Post- performance Visit will give students a hands-on workshop in one of the art forms featured in the assembly.

In this exciting, interactive class, elementary school students examine the instrumentation of a rock band, discovering the low notes of the bass guitar, the pounding rhythms of the drums and percussion, the melodies and harmonies of guitars, keyboards, and more. Students have fun learning about the characteristics of the instruments and their sounds - and even perform along with the band! By investigating how musicians arrange the various instruments of a band, students discover how the different parts of classic rock and roll songs are created. This class includes historic video performances by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees, as well as live performances and demonstrations by the Rock Hall education ensemble. At the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum kids really do get a chance to ROCK!

Discover how immigrant families preserved their cultural heritage and the important role faith and tradition play in Jewish life today. Learn about Jewish holidays, how families celebrate them, and make connections between Jewish traditions and those of other religious/ethnic groups. Ancient Jewish rituals and practices are explained and explored through hands-on objects and cultural artifacts, many centuries old.

In this program about American pioneers, Bob shows how songs can tell stories. He leads the group in sharing songs that tell tall-tales, songs that spread the news, songs about animals and songs about heroic figures.

Dave engages students in how computer technology has changed the way we create sounds and music. Using the synthesizer, Dave invites students to participate by identifying traditional musical instrument sounds and easily recognizable pieces of music. Students join the fun, creating and performing sounds right on stage. This fun and educational presentation will change the way you listen to music.

Spring 2010 come see The Dancing Wheels Company perform All That's Jazz, modern repertory set to Duke Ellington Suites. With choreographers, Donald McKayle and Dianne McIntyre this is sure to be a swinging good time! Dates and times to be announce on website. Available on a first come first serve basis for field trips.

The Legend of Nguzu Saba" begins in a mystical land called Kwanzaa land, where families young and old live in peace, love & happiness all year long. Life is good in Kwanzaa Land because the Kwanzaa Queen has taught her community to live in respect and harmony because they live by the seven principles of the Nguzu Saba. One day, the Queen is given the devastating news that there are young people in the land of Cleve who do no know about the seven principles or it's way of life exemplified in the Nguzu Saba. The storyy tells of the Queens mission to collectively teach the seven principles so that families and young people all over the world can live in peace and harmony. The original music score includes traditional African dance and drum, Blues, Hip Hop Gospel and R & B. and Break Dancing. The story is fueled by engaging characters such as Music Man, Sista Sevena, Rasta-ma-tazz, Elder Red, Black & Green, and Boogie & Woogie

Students will examine a variety of printmaking techniques such as block printing and monoprinting. Students will explore 2-dimensional design by using and discussing color, form, line, and texture.

Dancing Wheels' beloved classic, The Snowman is available to come to your gymnasium/auditorium. The performance will include fully costumed selections from the full length ballet set to a script read by a narrator. The performance concludes with a question and answer session with the company. The Snowman ballet is based on the story written by Raymond Briggs set to music by Howard Blake, the story is the adventure of a Snowman who comes to life and goes on a magical journey with his new friend James.

The Snowman is a winter classic that follows the book, The Snowman, by Raymond Briggs with enchanting music by Howard Blake. The Snowman and his friend James take a magical journey to experience hysterical moments with perky penguins, dancing turkeys, squirrels, bunnies, a wolf, and even sassy skunks. Available on a first come first serve basis for field trips. Coming Winter 2009/2010.

Invite a historical woman to step out of the textbook and into your classroom. Women In History brings a unique opportunity for students to interact with a historical figure who answers their questions and provides a glance into what life was like in centuries past. Select the figure that best suits the Language Arts or Social Studies curriculum. Historical biographies can be found at www.womeninhistoryohio.com.

The Civil War is perhaps the most defining event in U.S. history. Its effects, from the Emancipation Proclamation, through the difficulties of Reconstruction, to the successes of the Civil Rights Movement, have defined politics, culture, and race relations ever since. Through a combination of narrative and live performance, this program brings to life a colorful but turbulent period in our nation

Walking to the Western Reserve celebrates the 205-year history of the state of Ohio. The program includes songs and stories of Moses Cleveland, the Wright brothers, and Ohio's presidents. Other topics include the Underground Railroad, canals and rivers, the settlement of the Shakers, and Thomas Edison. Through a program of traditional acoustic music and folk dances students will be offered a glimpse of what life was like in a time before electricity and modern technology.